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JUERGEN TONNDORF, M.D.; F. A. BROGAN, B.A.; 1st LIEUT. DAVID D. WASHBURN, MSC

AMA Arch Otolaryngol. 1955;62(3):292-305.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings.

INTRODUCTION

The ability of the human ear to recognize changes in sound intensity is not a system of infinitesimal increments but is limited rather to discrete steps. The just-noticeable difference of intensity is generally referred to as the difference limen (DL) of intensity. Employing a method of "minimal changes" and using accurate electronic equipment, Knudsen⁸ and later Riesz¹¹ first systematically investigated the DL. A slow sinusoidal fluctuation of intensity was produced. The voltage amplitude at which fluctuation was just noticed by the listener was related to that of the minimum of sinusoidal event in terms of absolute voltage; the DL was thus expressed as E/E. By this method the DL was measured for various stimulus parameters. In general, the smallest values were found for a repetition rate of fluctuation between 3 and 4 cps. Being large for low sensation levels (SL) of the minimum voltage (E), the . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

Author Affiliations
U.S.A.F.

From the School of Aviation Medicine, Randolph Field, Texas.

Footnotes
Submitted for publication Jan. 27, 1955.

Dr. Tonndorf is now with the State University of Iowa.

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